Is Fernandez's role as acting UP coach done legally?

Did University of the Philippines violate a UAAP rule when it allowed team consultant Boyet Fernandez to call the shots for the Fighting Maroons in lieu of Aboy Castro? UAAP commissioner Ato Badolato, former league commissioner and ex-PBA coach Joe Lipa and outgoing PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios shared their opinion on the latest drama that transpired in the country's premier collegiate league. "The eligibility of players and coaches is not my responsibility as commissioner. The one who is responsible with that is host school La Salle," said Badolato, San Beda's multi-titled coach in the NCAA juniors' division. "But as far as I know, UP sent a letter to La Salle. Whether or not Boyet Fernandez is already officially a member of the coaching staff, that's beyond my knowledge," he added. "All I know is that team members who are not in playing uniform will be limited to seven people and they should wear their UAAP IDs while on the bench." For Lipa, he believes there's no UAAP ruling written in black and white regarding as to who will call the shots for a certain UAAP team. "In my term as commissioner, there's no ruling there which specify as to who will be the only authorized people to coach for a certain team, so I believe anybody can coach there as long as it has the blessing of the school/team," said Lipa. "I think even in the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) events, there's no such ruling regarding that." Barrios, who handled a similar case like this one involving Fernandez and Castro, said it's difficult to give his thoughts on the matter as "both leagues have different rules." "It's different in the PBA and in the collegiate league, which is why, I cannot make a comment regarding the matter," said Barrios. While Barrios didn't give his opinion on the case, there was a similar issue that happened in the PBA that was brought to his attention. Almost a month ago, San Miguel Beer assigned assistant coach Ato Agustin as acting coach as part of his "On Job Training." Agustin is the San Sebastian Stags' mentor in the NCAA. According to PBA rules, a head coach of a collegiate or amateur squad cannot become a PBA head coach at the same time. But Siot Tanquingcen, the official head coach of the Beermen, was still sitting on the bench at a time when Agustin was calling the shots for the squad. "When I've heard that it was Ato who's calling the shots for the squad, the first person I searched for when I entered the venue was Siot Tanquingcen. When I saw Siot on the San Miguel bench, that clears up everything," said Barrios in a telephone interview. "If Siot wasn't around at that time, then San Miguel did certainly committed a violation as Ato is already a head coach of San Sebastian in the NCAA." "The presence of Siot on the bench has certainly strengthened San Miguel's claim that Ato is just an assistant coach," added Barrios. - JVP, Rey Joble, GMANews.TV